Monsters!

Magical and mythical creatures

for kids of all ages!

Included with general admission.

See beasts familiar and strange, real and imagined, kind-hearted and troublesome, from across the span of human history and culture! You’ll learn where they come from, what they look like, how they behave, and how to defeat them!

We’ve reached into our vast collections to bring out unusual monster artifacts you can see and touch, and we’ve borrowed a few from other museums, as well, just to make sure the exhibit is chock-full of cool stuff. This brand-new, one-of-a-kind exhibit is loaded with interactive fun for the whole family:

Make a monster of your own.

Put on a play with strange creatures.

Find out how to defend yourself from monsters’ wily ways.

Learn the truth about monster legends.

Explore monster habitats, including caves, the sea, under the bed, and elsewhere!

Which stone age creature’s skull was thought to belong to a monster? Whose giant tentacle was mistaken for something far more mythical? What does a Sasquatch smell like? Find out!

Manticore

Beware this winged furry beast with the spiked tail! Native to Persian culture, some early images show him with the head of a man, just like his cousin the sphinx.

Unicorn

This beautiful creature has been considered a good omen and worthy of respect. Her horn has healing magic and she only shows herself to the pure of heart.

Werewolf

Arh-woooooo! Its history is in its name: were ultimately comes from the Latin word for man, and we all know what wolf means. Once a month, during a full moon, the werewolf emerges from its human host.

Leshy

This Slavic forest spirit — sometimes called a wood demon or a forest sprite — is a fierce protector of the forest and the animals that live there. It can transform itself into plants or animals and plays tricks on people who wander in or damage the forest.

Godzilla

This ferocious creature is a kaiju you may have first learned about from Japanese monster movies. What’s his relationship to the Asian dragon? How did the nuclear era bring him to life?

We are grateful for the support we have received from the following individuals and organizations. Without them, this exhibit would not have been possible.